A North Texas mother is hospitalized and reportedly paralyzed from the neck down after a massive tree crashed onto her SUV in Dallas’ Lakewood neighborhood this week.
The crash happened Monday afternoon in the 3200 block of Wendover Road, where Dallas Fire-Rescue crews had to extricate the driver and take her to the hospital in serious condition.
Family and friends identify the driver as 32-year-old Maisie Evans, the mother of a six-month-old. A fundraiser says Evans suffered a severe spinal cord injury and underwent major surgery, with updates describing paralysis from the neck down.
Witnesses describe a chaotic scene with downed lines, sparking power equipment and a crushed SUV. Oncor reported widespread outages in the area as crews cleared debris and restored service.
The tree stood on private property owned by Dan Patterson, who serves as chairman of the Dallas-based Texas Trees Foundation. Patterson told FOX 4 he felt terrible when he learned of the driver’s injuries and suggested heavy spring rains that swelled acorns may have added weight to the canopy before the unexpected fall. The foundation confirmed Patterson’s leadership role in a 2022 announcement.
City officials have not announced a formal cause of the collapse. CBS News Texas reported the tree was at least 30 feet tall and fell without warning across the residential street, injuring the driver and triggering safety concerns among neighbors.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has video from the area is asked to contact Dallas Fire-Rescue as investigators work to determine what led to the collapse. A verified GoFundMe has been launched to assist with Evans’ medical and rehabilitation costs.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.